Harley Foundation announces 2026 exhibition programme, including new museum display, the Harley Open exhibition, plus contemporary shows exploring mining and mythology.
Jennifer Vanderpool: Bread and Roses – Welbeck’s Untold Stories
17 January 2026 – 4 May 2026
American artist Jennifer Vanderpool creates collages and films exploring the social and cultural impact of industrial decline on working-class communities. In this exhibition, her immersive floor-to-ceiling collages are combined with historical objects and video interviews to explore the history of coal mining in Nottinghamshire, and the impact on local communities following the closure of the mines.
Coal Mining Stories
17 January 2026 – 3 January 2027
Celebrating the creativity of the area’s coal mining communities, the Harley Gallery will exhibit a selection of artworks by ex-miners and from the wider mining community alongside archival material exploring the history of Welbeck’s connections to coal mining.
The World’s Mine Oyster: Art, Nature and Collecting the Globe
20 March 2026 – 8 April 2029
In this new museum display, visitors will learn the stories behind the Portland Collection – built up over 400 years by the Cavendish family and their descendants – for the first time. The exhibition brings together previously untold stories with new research to explore how this family saw and used the natural world, both at home and across the world. The World’s Mine Oyster includes artworks that have never been on public display before, such as the newly restored A View of Antwerp, and the latest research giving new perspectives on well-known works, such as Michelangelo’s Madonna del Silenzio.
Serena Korda: Triple Goddess
16 May 2026 – 6 September 2026
Triple Goddess combines new works by British artist Serena Korda, with important past works, many never seen before in the UK. This bold installation explores three archetypes of a woman’s life: Maiden, Mother and Crone. Korda takes inspiration from history, folklore and myth. For this exhibition Korda will make new work in collaboration with her 6-year-old daughter, creating family portraits in ceramic influenced by the miniatures in the Portland Collection.
The Harley Open
Submissions open 1 May 2026
Exhibition runs 19 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
The Harley Open invites artists – whether professional or amateur – to submit works for our biennial open exhibition. For the first time in 2026, the Harley Foundation will be accepting applications of 3D, sculptural, and free-standing works and is particularly encouraging submissions from heritage crafts practitioners, be that basket making, leather work, glass blowing etc.
- These exhibitions are on show at the Harley Foundation, Nottinghamshire throughout 2026.
- All exhibitions are free to enter and there is a large, free car park.
- The gallery is open every day. Please check www.harleyfoundation.org.uk for opening times.
- The Harley Foundation is on the Welbeck estate, on the A60 south of Worksop. It is 15 minutes from both the A1 and M1.
Posted on 07 January 2026
